ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 56
TECHNICAL FEATURE
Exploring Possible
Issues with Energy Code
Plug Load Assumptions
BY MOHAMED OUF, PH.D., P.ENG., ASSOCIATE MEMBER ASHRAE; GUY NEWSHAM
Building energy codes and standards are regularly updated to raise the minimum
allowed efficiency of HVAC or building envelope systems. These updates can substantially
decrease loads in newer buildings but may increase the contribution of occupant-related
end uses to overall building energy consumption. Despite this issue, occupant-related
end uses are typically treated with simple, fixed assumptions in most energy codes and
standards. This article investigates the effect of occupant-related plug load assumptions
on the results of building simulations of existing buildings that comply with recent
versions of the Canadian National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB).
In Canada, two standards are typically used to provide guidelines for building performance simulations:
(NECB)1 and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019,2 which is
used in specific contexts (e.g., for LEED certifications).
These standards outline densities and schedules (diversity factors) for occupant-related end uses based on
building type, which can affect overall building energy
consumption in two ways: 1) by directly influencing
electricity consumption due to using plug-in equipment or light fixtures and 2) by influencing heating and
cooling loads due to associated heat addition (internal
gains).
Given their effect on overall building energy consumption, it is critical to ensure estimates of occupant-related
end uses in building simulations are representative,
especially in newer energy codes and standards that are
expected to meet net zero energy performance targets.
Furthermore, the effect of new societal trends, such as
the increase in remote working, on occupant-related end
uses should be considered, especially since these trends
are expected to last beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specific objectives of the study discussed in this article
focus on 1) reviewing the literature on plug load use
in existing buildings, and the development of related
schedules and equipment power densities (EPD) in the
NECB and Standard 90.1, and 2) testing the sensitivity of
building simulations complying with different energy
code versions to plug load assumptions.
The scope of this work covered building simulations compliant with three different versions of NECB
Mohamed Ouf, Ph.D., P.Eng., is an assistant professor in Building Engineering at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. Guy Newsham is a senior research officer at the National
Research Council Canada.
56
ASHRAE JOURNAL
ashrae.org
MARCH 2021
http://ashrae.org
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - March 2021
Contents
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - Intro
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - Cover1
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - Cover2
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 1
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - Contents
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 3
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 4
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 5
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 6
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 7
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 8
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 9
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 10
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 11
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 12
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 13
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 14
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 15
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 16
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 17
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 18
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 19
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 20
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 21
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 22
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 23
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 24
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 25
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 26
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 27
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 28
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 29
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 30
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 31
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 32
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 33
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 34
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 35
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 36
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 37
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 38
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 39
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 40
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 41
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 42
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 43
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 44
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 45
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 46
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 47
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 48
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 49
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 50
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 51
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 52
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 53
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 54
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 55
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 56
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 57
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 58
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 59
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 60
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 61
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 62
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 63
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 64
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 65
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 66
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 67
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 68
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 69
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 70
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 71
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 72
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 73
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 74
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 75
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 76
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 77
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 78
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 79
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 80
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 81
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 82
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 83
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 84
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 85
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 86
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 87
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 88
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 89
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 90
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 91
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 92
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 93
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 94
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 95
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 96
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 97
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 98
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 99
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 100
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 101
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 102
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 103
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - 104
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - Cover3
ASHRAE Journal - March 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_MCDEBX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WNYSQY
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XATVOD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_FJSHSS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_CCBZDS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XDEFVG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2023november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2023november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_VHGNBL
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WPKBNJ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_UUVCDE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RTGDEW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LKRFXS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_AZSOFG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ERCDBH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QWDFRV
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JHGVDF
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OPUYHG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SREIBM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LRTGLK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OKRFGH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2022november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2022november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TZSERA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LVRUIX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RPTVYZ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/mini_pub_catalog
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XIYTGD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RFGDOB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PABXNU
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_REMKLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PICVBT
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_AOYTVW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JQOPLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_IOYTBC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SGAJJF
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_IGHYER
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PDRKLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2021november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2021november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XCODFR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QSLFGO
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ILKVNM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OPDJKD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_VJKSRY
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SDHUTC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JPPKRR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SDLTTH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_CKLLES
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SLDOX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_HJETUK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OLUHGE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2020october
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2020october_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ZERDGH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QVMNEO
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RTPOKE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_BBATRE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_STUBMW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TPEMPE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JNMKDS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_FBTTPA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WQMMNE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TVBRYN
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_showguide2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_KTUZMA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ABEDGD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2019septmeber_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2019september
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2019april
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2019march
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_showguide2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018december
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2018fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018october
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraeinsights_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2017fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashrae_meetinginsert_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2016fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acrexindia
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2015summer_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/amca/2014summer2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/amca/2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acma_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acmasupp_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2013winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/achr_expo_mexico2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201208_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201208_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2012summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2012winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201111_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201109_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2011summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com